Ratchet-wrench



(No Model.) 1 4 A 0. WBGHSLER.v

` -RATUHBT WRENCH. l

I No.A 293,l28.` Patented Febf-,IBBIL WW/ITJITOR: mm

` ATTORNEYS.

II. .l'llfllli N, PEERS PnourLilhogmphef. wnshingian, D. c.

WITNESSES:

lUNrTn STATES PATENT @Trina CHARLES \VECHSLER, QF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

. RATCHET-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 293,128,.dated Felruary 5, 1884.

` 4 Application filed December 13, 1853. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom lnmy concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns W noHsLnn., a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in thecounty of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Vrenches, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is a side view of my improved wrench, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a section through the line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of a wrench-head, showing a modification of the invention. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the line y y of Fig. 3.

My invention relates to that form of wrench in which a head is provided with sliding plates, which, bybeing forced back when applied to a nut, adapt the plates not forced back to fit closely to the nut to get a turning-h old thereon, thus adapting the wrench to various sizes of nuts. i

The invention also relates to that form of wrench in which the headis surrounded by `ratchet-teeth, andis combined with a swiveled handle bearing a pawl, which, by engaging with the ratchet-teeth of the head, gives to it an intermittent motion in the same direction, when thehandle is oscillated.

My invention consists iu providing the wrench-head with a system of concentricallyarranged angular sleeves or slides,of constantly-decreasing size to the center, which sleeves or slides extend all the way through the head to form a ri ght-hand wrench on one side, and a left-hand one on thev other, the said sleeves or slides being provided with rectilinear slots, that are guided upon pins projecting outwardly from the head, to permit said sleeves or slides to telescope freely into each other, and then combining said head, as thus constructed, with a ratchet-handle, as

` hereinafter more fully described.

'In the drawings, A represents the wrenchhead, which is of a cylindrical shape, and is provided at its middle with a ring of ratchetteeth, r. B' B is the handle, which is madein two longitudinal halves, which are formed at one end with rings that embrace the cylindrical head on opposite sides of the ring of ratchetteeth. These two halves of the handle are fastened together byserews, andbetween them, 1n a chamber near the wrench-head, is secured a spring and pawl, I), that engages with the ring of rachet-teeth to connect the handle rigidly to the head when turned in one direction, and to allow it independent movement when turned in the other direction.

As so far described, the wrench. presents no substantial novelty. In constructing the wrench-head, however, it is made in the shape of a cylinder, of considerable length, and has a square or-other angular-shaped opening entirely through the same. are arranged a series ot' concentrically-arranged square sleeves, C C C2 C3 Ct, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or plates, C C C, Ste., as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, which extend the" Iull length of the head, and form angular bushings. In either case the sleeves or plates have longitudinal slots c in them, through which there project pins d, that extend inwardly from the wrench-head. These pins and slots allow the In this opening there sleeves or plates to slide or telescope freely order to withstand the greater leverage that the small nuts exert toward straining the said sleeve or plates, which smaller nuts may be received wholly within the smaller sleeve or plates-C", or be caught between the outside of the sleeve or plate C* and one of the other plates, or the inside of the head.

Now, in making use of the wrench the head is applied to the nut, and all ofthe plates or sleeves that are smaller than thenutare forced inwardly by the same, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, while the sleeves or plates that are larger than the nut fit around theangular edges of the nut, and secure a purchase upon the same for turning it when the handle is oscillated. With respect to the two forms shown by me, I prefer the separate sliding plates, for the reason that it gives a greater number of adjustments for different sizes of nuts, and the latter need not beexactly central with respect to the head. v

Among the advantages of my invention I may mention the fact that it makes available the ratchet principle in either right or left IOO hand nuts, and permits the wrench to be applied to nuts without respect to the length of the protruding threaded end of the bolt.

In constructing' the head, it may be inade either in one solid piece, asin Fig. 3; or it may be made in two longitudinal sections, as in Fig. 1; and the vopening through'the saine may be of any other angular shape than square.

Having thus described my invention, what I elaiin -as new is 1. The wrench-head made in cylindrical form, with a ring of ratchet-teeth around it, and an angular hole through it, with guidepins projecting inwardly, in combination with a series of slotted angular bushings arranged eoncentrically in said hole or opening, and extending the full length of the head, and a handle swiveled about the middle of the wrench-head, and provided with a pawl to engage the ratchet-teeth, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The wrench-head made in cylindrical form, with a ring of ratchet-teeth around it,

and an angular hole through it, with guidepins projecting inwardly, in combination with a series of flat plates with beveled vedges arranged concentrieally about the central opening, andof the saine length as the head, and slotted longitudinally, to move freely in the head on the pins, a handle swiveled about the middle of the wrenelrhead, and a pawl contained in the latter, and adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A wrench-head having a series of telescoping or sliding angular bushings, of increased thickness toward the center of the head, as and for the purpose described.

CHARLES VECHSLER.

Vit'nesses:

J osnn ZUGKRMAN, J. F. CoLLoM. 

